After a loss, what are Team India’s chances at the FIBA Asia Cup?

The Indian basketball team kick-started their FIBA ASIA CUP 2017 campaign, which is currently in progress in Beirut, Lebanon, in the most undesirable way possible. Their first match ended in a 54-101 loss at the hands of the merciless Iranian team. Iran, who are the favorites to win the tournament, ran riot from the very first quarter, leaving the Indians with absolutely no breathing room to make a competitive comeback into the game. India is part of Group A with Iran, Jordan, and Syria.

The drubbing was quite obviously on the cards when Iran amassed a total of 29 points in the first quarter, while India could only manage 8. In the subsequent quarter, India bettered their previous performance by scoring 14 points and tried to get a move on, but they still fell short by a massive 28- point margin as Iran finished the first half with the score of 50-22.

After that, there was no looking back for Iran as they gained a 40-point advantage by winning the third quarter 29-17. By this point, the game was done and dusted, and it was only a matter of time before Iran officially registered their first win of the tournament. Finally, they sealed an emphatic victory by scoring 22 points in the last quarter and finished the game 101-54. Hamed Haddadi was the star of the show as he scored 20 points.

Where did India go wrong?

Two things that India lacked and Iran showcased in abundance were speed and presence of mind. India scored 60% of their points through free throws while approximately 85% of Iran’s scores came through field goals. Indians were slow out of the box and often ended up conceding open baskets without even challenging the Iranians. A lack of agility and presence of mind was evident during India’s offensive plays as Iran scored 15 steals and 34 defensive rebound points.

Block, steal, attack and score were the predictable sequences of play throughout the entire match. During India’s offensive plays, Iran successfully kept pushing the Indian players further apart from the basket and as a result, India resorted to 3-point plays, and unsuccessful attempts creating openings for Haddadi and his teammates to score the extra points.

The shot-division chart below clearly shows the apprehension, more like inability, of Indian players to break in deep through the Iranian defense and their slow sleep allowing the opposition to score easy two-pointers.

Individual stats and performances of the game also indicate Iran’s dominance and India’s poor show. It is astonishing to note that five players from the Iranian side score more than 10 points, with Haddadi, who has played for NBA Teams like Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns, topping the chart with 20 points 8 assists. On the other hand, only Amjyot Singh Gill could break into double figures as he scored a mere 10 points.

Here’s a look at the stand out performances from both the teams:

Arsalan Kazemi was the overall top-performer for Iran as he bagged 10 points, 10 rebounds, dished out 5 assists and successfully recorded 4 steals. On the other side of the court, Amrit Pal Singh was the overall stand out performer for India with 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block.

Another shocking fact tells us that India was in the lead for only 15 seconds throughout the entire match when they scored the first bucket of the game. Iran immediately bounced back to equalize the score and ever since Iran ran havoc and they maintained their lead for the next 38 minutes and 19 seconds. Iran’s biggest scoring run lasted 18 points while India’s lasted a measly 6 points.

It is appealing to note that Iran showed no signs of complacency despite dominating the entire game and the display of their offensive prowess was extremely riveting. They were not only the better team but also extremely brutal and intimidating as they stamped their authority in style. India just didn’t show up and, calling their performance in the game the result of an off-day, would be an understatement.

An uphill task ahead for India

Ranked 25th in the world, Iran outclassed the 53rd ranked Indian side. Evidently, if India is to qualify for the second round, they will have to beat 28th ranked Jordan on Friday and 72nd ranked Syria on Sunday. Only top three teams from each group advance to the next round. In the other match of Group A, Jordan was subjected to a fierce fight by the Syrian team as they won by a shallow margin of just 2 points. The finals score read 68-66 in favor of Jordan.

Therefore, it is clear that in the next match, India must chalk out a strategy to stop Mousa Alawadi and Yousef AbuWazaneh, power houses of the Jordan team who scored the majority of their points in their first match. India must bring out their A-Game on Friday, and the players have no choice but to find their speed back as it’s their only way of stopping the likes of Alawadi, Yousef, and Mah’d Abdeen and get through the defensive prowess of Yousef Abu Wazaneh and Mohammad Hussein.

The Indian team have an array of challenges awaiting them and just like the Women’s team. The boys will have to outclass their opposition to turn the odds in their favor.

When 12 girls made India sit up and take notice

Ladies and Gentlemen, please put your hands together for the team from India

Partner Story

This Mother’s Day, Let Us Make A Real Difference In Our Mother’s Life

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln

Mothers play a crucial role in our lives. Since we were little, they held our hands, acting as our guide into the world. They took care of all our needs – from teaching us how to hold a spoon, cooking delicious meals for us, dropping us to school and sitting with us while we struggled with our math homework – mothers have been there through thick and thin.

On the special occasion of Mother’s Day, Friends Adult Diapers has a beautiful message for each of us – treat your mother the way she has treated you all her life.

It was our mothers who stayed up all night taking care of us when we fell sick; it was her who help us with our homework. This Mother’s Day, remember to take care and support your mother the way she took care of you all these years.

The minds and bodies of our ageing parents dwindle as they grow even older, and somewhere in the incoherence of understanding their thoughts, children lose patience. They spend less and less time with their parents and hire others to look after them. A study by HelpAge India gives accounts of the elderly, most of whom testify to verbal abuse, neglect and disrespect by their children. Old people rely on their children for both emotional and financial support but, often times are not given the needed care.

There is little difference in how we were as toddlers and how parents are as senior citizens. They couldn’t understand the gibber we uttered then, yet taught us different languages. We were financially dependent on them till at least 18 years of age yet, they never said no to giving us pocket money. Why cannot we echo the same patience our parents showed for so many years?

Our parents have an unconditional love for us. They made sure all our needs are cared for and we never feel alone. When we grow up and our parents enter old age, they require the same care and affection. They would be delighted if we spent time with them after classes or work, make tea or cook for them and also help them with household chores when they have too many things at hand.

It is our responsibility to stand with our parents when they are weak; it is our responsibility to cook for them when they are too tired, and it is our responsibility to take care of them when they fall sick.

Mother’s Day is a celebration in honour of motherhood, a tribute to maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. Let us make a real difference by showing how much we truly care for our mothers.

Friends Adult Diapers has taken a wonderful initiative in this regard. The most precious gift for a mother is her child. So why not take this as an opportunity to shower her with the same love? After all, she deserves it for being with you through every obstacle and every hardship that you faced.